Table attachment



Dec. 24, 1935. G SHERMAN 2,025,312

TABLE ATTACHMENT Filed NOY. 27, 1953 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATE-NT GFFICE 3 Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to improvements in table attachments, and has particular reference to an attachment for accommodating parcels, purses or similar objects.

5 It is particularly proposed to provide an attachment of this character in connection with tables used at restaurants and hotels, so as to enable a patron to place his parcels conveniently in a safe place without cluttering the top of the table.

More particularly it is proposed to provide an attachment of the character described that is disposed underneath the table top, in front of the person seated at the table.

It is further proposed to provide an attachment of the character described in the nature of a pocket into which the parcels may be inserted and which will automatically close itself so as to hide the parcels from view, unless the parcels are of such size as to make the closing of the pocketimpossible, in which case the pocket will remain open for the accommodation of larger parcels.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide an attachment for holding parcels that will not interfere with the normal use of the table.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

'I'he preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical section through my attachment in its relation to the top of a table, as seen from line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 a top plan view of the attachment, the

table top being omitted;

Figure 3 a fragmentary front view of the attachment as seen from line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 a vertical section similar to that of Figure 1, but on a reduced scale, and of a modied form;

Figure 5 a perspective detail view of a modified form of bracket adapted to be used in connection with my attachment.

While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In its preferred form my invention comprises a substantially channel-shaped pocket I consisting of a shelf 2, and a supporting means including a substantially semi-circular section 3 joining the rear end of the shelf as at 4, and two clips 5 projecting from the free end of the semi-circular section, the clips being bent as at 6 to present two flat sections 'I and 8, the flat sections 1 run- Aning substantially parallel to the shelf 2. The -semi-circular section 3 is arranged substantially at right angles to the shelf 2 so as to form a pocket therewith as shown in the drawing.

The extremities of the clips 5 are pivoted as 5 shown at 9 to a pair of brackets Ill, each including a plate l i adapted for fastening to the under face of the table shown at I2 by means` of screws I3, and a plate Ill projecting perpendicularly therefrom in a kdownward direction, the plate I4 hav- 10 ing the pivot 9 projecting laterally therefrom. It will be noted that the pivot 9 is spaced from the under face of the table, and that a spring I5 is provided between the under face of the bracket and the section 8 of each clip 5 for urging the sec- 15 tion 8 downwardly, whereby the shelf is urged into an inclined position as shown in Figure 1, with its front edge I6 bearing against the under face of the table near the margin thereof. The spring I5 is held in place by small projections 20 I'I and I8 extending from the bracket and the section 8 respectively.

'Ihe front edge I6 of the shelf 2 may be depressed into the horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and in that case the 25 section 1 of each clip 5 bears against the under face of the bracket, and lies fiat against the same so as to prevent further downward movement of the shelf 2, and to support the same in horizontal position. When the shelf is urged into 30 horizontal position the springs I5 yield sufliciently to allow of this movement, and when pressure is lreleased the springs urge the shelf into the inclined position shown in full lines in Figure 1. The front edge I6 is preferably rolled and 35 provided with a central recess I6' for facilitating the operation.

The manner of using the device thus far described will be readily understood from the foregoing description. A person desiring to sit down 40 at the table, and carrying parcels, will depress the front edge I6 of the shelf 2 thereby opening the pocket, and will then insert such parcel or parcels as she may wish to accommodate. If the parcel is sufficiently large to occupy the entire 45 space available in the pocket, the latter will be forced into the horizontal position 4shown in dotted linesI which is its position of maximum capacity. In that position the section 1 bears against the bracket and prevents further downward movement of the shelf. If the parcel or parcels to be accommodated occupy only a portion of the space available, the springs I5 will urge the shelf into the inclined position and will cause the same to take either the position indicatedrin Figure 1, or any intermediate position depending upon the size of the parcels placed inside of the pocket.

Whiley my attachment has been described in connection with the under face of a table top, it may be used in connection with any vertical surface.

Figure 4 shows a slight modification of my invention in which weights I 8 are substituted for the springs I .for Vurging the 4shelf .2 ,into the inclined-position; Figure 5 shows a modiedform of bracket made of a piece of wire so as to present an intermediate section I9, two eyes 20 at the ends thereof adapted to receive the screws I3, a pivot 2I and a small projecting stud 22 adapted .to serve as one of the positioning .members for the 'spring I5.

If a. small, yet heavy, object is placed-.nn `the Y shelf, the shelf Vwill be swung into full open position. The springs I5 can be arranged for counterbalancing the shelf so as to` holdiit in. closed position when 1empty and .,torremain open whenisupporting any-object. :The pivot 2| lofthefzbracket Y shown in Figure 5 is ,threaded at .2 I 'fior receiving to the brackets and having a flat parcel supporting portion, said shelf having stop at portions paralleling the parcel supporting flat portion and designed to abut the undersurface of the table when the parcel supporting portion is parallel withV the plane of the table, and means for yieldingly swinging the parcel supporting portion about a horizontal axis into an inclinedvposition where the front edge thereof will abut the table.

2. A pocketattachment for a table or the like and comprising a sheet .of rmaterial shaped to form a, bottom and a back portion, means pivotally securing the back portion tothe table, and spring means for yieldingly urging the bottom upwardly .into a 'position Where the front edge thereof will contact with the table, said back portion carrying stops for limiting the swinging of the bottom portion .beyond4 asubstantial horizontal position.

3. A pocket attachment for a table or the like a bottomand abackportion, means pivotally securing the back portion to .the table, and spring means for ,yieldingly urging the bottom upwardlyY into a position where the front edge thereof will and* comprising a sheet of material shaped to form contact with the table, said backv portion carrying GERTRUDE CROSE SHERMAN. 

